Egypt presidential powers poses test for US foreign policy

Updated
November 26, 2012 09:48:00

The Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi's decision to grant himself new, near absolute powers presents a test for the United States. Questions are being asked about how much pressure the US can and should exert on the new Egyptian leader. The dilemma plays into broader speculation about whether the Obama administration will adopt a more muscular foreign policy in its second term and what role Hillary Clinton's replacement will have.

TONY EASTLEY: The Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi's decision to grant himself new, near absolute powers, presents a test for the United States.

Questions are being asked about how much pressure the US can and should exert on the new Egyptian leader.

The dilemma plays into broader speculation about whether the Obama administration will adopt a more muscular foreign policy in its second term and what role Hillary Clinton's replacement will have.

North America correspondent Jane Cowan reports.

JANE COWAN: It's a power grab that puts the Obama administration in an awkward position, after heaping praise on the Egyptian president for his role brokering the Gaza ceasefire.

So far the US has issued only muted criticism of Mohamed Morsi's decrees granting himself sweeping new powers.

David Sanger is the chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times.

DAVID SANGER: This puts president Obama right back in the situation that many of his predecessors found themselves in. He is at this point tied to president Morsi, because if you can get a Muslim Brotherhood president of Egypt to intervene in a case like this and bring about a ceasefire, it's enormously valuable.

But if it does require him to do what the United States did for 30 years with president Mubarak, which is to just look the other way about what he's doing at home - that's going to be the dilemma.

JANE COWAN: But observers like Liz Cheney, who was a State Department official under the Bush administration, say the US can't afford to turn a blind eye to anti-democratic behaviour inside Egypt.

LIZ CHENEY: We need to be very clear, very strong, I think we need to cancel any debt forgiveness. I think that I would put a hold right now on all economic aid. I would look carefully at the military aid. And I would say very clearly, you know, we do not support this.

JANE COWAN: The turmoil in Gaza and the developments in Egypt collide with mounting speculation about the possible appointment of the US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, as Hillary Clinton's replacement as the next secretary of state.

Conservative commentator and editor of the Weekly Standard Bill Kristol says the appointment of Susan Rice could make a shift to a more interventionist US foreign policy more likely than if one of the other possible contenders, senator John Kerry, is chosen.

BILL KRISTOL: John Kerry's been against our intervening every war that we've intervened, in the first Gulf War.

I actually think Susan Rice might say, you know what, that light footprint thing, not working out so well - not having any presence in Libya, not intervening in Syria. We are at an incredibly dangerous moment thanks to this light footprint and to the utter collapse of US influence and power in the region. Maybe Susan Rice would be a little more alarmed by that than John Kerry.

JANE COWAN: John McCain has been one of the most ardent critics of Susan Rice, threatening to block her appointment. But today in an interview on Fox News the Republican senator and former presidential candidate appeared to soften his stance.

REPORTER: She could conceivably get your vote for secretary of state?

JOHN MCCAIN: I think she deserves the ability and the opportunity to explain herself.

JANE COWAN: Many predict Barack Obama will appoint Susan Rice as the next secretary of state and say if that happens she will be successfully confirmed by Congress because Democrats control the Senate.